title: Assessment of prosthetic valve function and para-valvular regurgitation after trans-catheter aortic valve replacement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the current literature on prosthetic valve function and para-valvular regurgitation (PVR) after trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). TAVR is a new alternative for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis in patients at high risk for surgical aortic valve replacement and nonsurgical candidates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The innovations in three-dimensional trans-esophageal echocardiography have made it an integral part of the TAVR procedure. PVR is more frequent with TAVR than surgical aortic valve replacement and is associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes. Recent publications focus on echocardiographic techniques to better assess the structural components of aortic valve complex, and begin to define the mechanism and risks of PVR after TAVR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imaging innovations before, during, and after TAVR may lead to improved patient selection, accelerated development of TAVR prostheses, and ultimately a fuller characterization of the performance and potential limitations of a new generation of prosthetic heart valves.
authors.affiliation: The Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Venkateshwar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Polsani
authors.forename: Stephen H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Little
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome